House Plans: Collin Community College

Collin Community College

Born to a French mother and an Ecuadorian father, Fernand Vera is a sought-after guitar soloist, chamber musician, and teacher. He holds a Bachelor’s of Arts in Music from the University of St. Thomas in Houston and Masters of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees from the University of North Texas. Fernand was a prizewinner in the Rantucci Guitar Competition and Eastfield Collegiate Guitar competition (1st Prize-2008), and a finalist in the University of Texas at Dallas International Guitar Competition. His playing was hailed as “sensitive and poetic” by the renowned judges of the Rantucci competition. Fernand has also explored the folk guitar tradition of South America during his three-month stay in Ecuador.

Always eager to learn new skills, Fernand was the recording engineer and sound editor for Kithara Duo's debut CD, “Beings” (Soundset Recordings, 2011).
Fernand's unique gifts as a teacher have won him many heartfelt accolades from students. His guitar students have won prizes in competitions and performed recitals in the North Texas area. His interest in guitar pedagogy has culminated in his co-writing, with Olga Amelkina-Vera, of The Beginning Guitar Method, Vol. 1, now in its fourth edition. He is the author of The Beginning Guitar Method, Vol. 2 for continuing guitar students, and Guitar Fitness: Technical Studies for the Advancing Guitarist. Fernand continuously contributes to the guitar ensemble repertoire through his numerous arrangements and transcriptions. He is faculty at Collin College in Plano, TX.